In Honor of Summer…
Posted by Mad Rocket Scientist | Filed under Ephemera, Guest Authors, Patriot's Journey
And to help brighten spirits, and in keeping with the spirit of Ted’s Patriotic journeys, I thought I’d post these photos from my area and tell a short story about them:
Click on the photo to embiggen.
Taken from the top of the Seattle Space Needle in 2006, on a warm summer afternoon. In the picture you’ll find a partial view of the Seattle Downtown, A Seaplane from Kenmore Air, Safeco and Qwest Fields, the Washington Mutual Tower, and our own quiet little Vesuvius, Mt. Rainer in the haze beyond.
We had just moved to the area a few months before and that day we had taken my Sister-in-Laws, who were 14 & 20, to do some sight seeing in downtown Seattle. We did some shopping, rode to the top of the tower for pictures, and ended up with the girls playing in various fountains near The Seattle Center, including The International Fountain. We got some great pics of the waterlogged, but very giggly, young ladies.
The photo itself was a complete accident. I had seen the seaplane flying around earlier, but I had lost track of it. My actual target was Mt. Rainer behind the city scape, the Beaver just flew in as I hit the button, giving me a great composite that combined many elements characteristic of the Emerald City and the Puget Sound.
The politics of the region amuse the hell out of me, as by and large the people vote for Democrats, and then vote against funding their projects.
I could go into some lengthy exposition about how Seattle was built on the power of American Determination and Imagination, but I think that goes without saying, as that tiny Seaplane and the various skyscrapers give testament to. Such creations are not built without determination and imagination.
Click to embiggen.
This is Denny Creek washing over the Keekwulee Falls. Taken in September of 2007, this was my first solo mountain hike in the region. I know it does not look like much, but this was September, when the snow has melted and the rain is done, so the creek is pretty low. I have pictures from further downstream that show great trees broken and jammed into the rocks along the creek, telling the tale of how powerful this little creek gets in the Spring.
The total hike for the day was 6.6 miles and I ascended 2200 feet, all with 50 lbs of gear on my back (yes, I overpacked, and I had gear that was too heavy for backpacking, I have since trimmed my loadout). My destination was the small Melakwa Lake. The day started out overcast and wet (no rain, just heavy mist), but as I was coming back, the sun came out and helped to dry me out a bit. It was my first mountain hike, and my legs hurt for days afterward, but it was so worth it. I’m hoping to go back this summer before the creek gets low so I can get some photos of the raging torrent.
If Ted and Hazel are open to it, I’d like to invite other guest bloggers to use a photo to tell a small story and share a bit of their American journey, and readers could do something similar on their own blogs, or on the Picador Project Forums. It helps sometimes to share the journeys others have taken, to remember what we fight for.
This is a Patriot’s Journey post. Remember to check out the other Patriotic Journeyers: Drumwaster, The Bastage, Inessential Musings, and The Edge of Reason
Help Support Simon-Jester.org!
